Wastern Networks

What Wastern Networks does

Watsen Networks, LLC is a Virginia-domiciled private software company founded in 2019 by Kent Watsen, the author of IETF RFC 8572 (Secure Zero Touch Provisioning). The company develops two complementary Python-based products for network management and device provisioning: YANGcore, a RESTCONF-based application server that presents a YANG-driven API and provides core authentication, authorization, and accounting functions via a plugin-based architecture, and SZTPD (Secure Zero Touch Provisioning Daemon), which implements the Bootstrap Server defined in RFC 8572, enabling network devices in factory-default state to establish secure connections to NMS/Controller applications. Both products are built on asynchronous Python with SQLAlchemy for database abstraction, support multi-database backends (MariaDB, MySQL, Postgres, Oracle, in-memory, file-based), and are designed for horizontal scalability suitable for both single-tenant and multi-tenant deployments and ephemeral SDN micro-service use cases. Differentiated technical features include dynamic callout hooks for audit log delivery, notification delivery, bootstrapping event notifications, device ownership verification, and dynamic bootstrapping response generation.

The company's technology stack is grounded in IETF standards — RFC 8572, RFC 8040 (RESTCONF), and RFC 7950 (YANG) — and its founder co-chairs the IETF NETCONF and NETMOD Working Groups and holds 12 granted US patents in network security and provisioning. The product is documented to sustain 2,000 concurrent onboardings per minute in a major ISP production deployment, with theoretical throughput of approximately 200,000 bootstraps per day based on referenced timing tests.

Watsen Networks operates a dual licensing model: products are free for Non-Production Use (development, testing, evaluation, demonstration, research, and training), while a commercial license is required for Production Use. The company distributes software via pip (pip install sztpd, pip install yangcore) and sells directly to enterprise customers through its sales team at [email protected], targeting Network Equipment Vendors that need secure device provisioning solutions and Network Operators/ISPs managing large-scale device deployments. The go-to-market is sales-led with minimal marketing presence, relying on comprehensive technical documentation and direct enterprise engagement; pricing is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Wastern Networks

Legal name

Watsen Networks, LLC

Website

https://watsen.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Watsen Networks develops Python-based, standards-aligned network management software — YANGcore (RESTCONF application server) and SZTPD (RFC 8572 zero touch provisioning) — primarily serving network equipment vendors and ISPs/operators under a dual free / commercial licensing model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Network Management Software

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182)

SIC

Computer Communications Equipment (3576), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

Fault & Performance Monitoring (SNMP/Telemetry/APM for Networks) (HDAFAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial/IoT Network Perimeter Security (OT DMZ, gateways) (HDADABAO), Network Security Services (Firewall/VPN/ZTNA/SASE Integration) (BPAEAEAG)

Keywords

• Network management software
• Zero touch provisioning
• RESTCONF application server
• Network device bootstrapping
• YANG-based APIs

Headquarters

HQ city

Leesburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Production Use Licenses: Commercial software licenses required for production deployment of YANGcore and SZTPD products. Only products with version numbers >= 1.0.0 are available for purchase.
2. Non-Production Use (Free Tier): Free license for Non-Production Use including development, testing, evaluation, demonstration, research, and training purposes. Provided in source code format to non-production servers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Watsen Networks develops and sells Python-based network management and security software built on YANG-driven RESTCONF APIs. Its two flagship products are YANGcore, a RESTCONF-based application server providing authentication, authorization, accounting, and plugin-based extensibility, and SZTPD (Secure Zero Touch Provisioning Daemon), which implements the IETF RFC 8572 Bootstrap Server to enable factory-default network devices to securely onboard themselves to NMS/Controller applications without manual intervention. Both products are offered free for non-production use and under commercial license for production deployment.

Product overview

Watsen Networks offers two core products: YANGcore is a RESTCONF-based application server providing foundational network management capabilities including authentication, authorization, and accounting; SZTPD (Secure Zero Touch Provisioning Daemon) implements RFC 8572 to enable secure zero-touch bootstrapping of network devices. Both products use YANG-driven RESTCONF APIs and Python-based implementation with SQLAlchemy for database persistence. The products are offered free for non-production use with commercial licenses available for production deployment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• YANGcore: A RESTCONF-based application server that presents a YANG-driven API using modules defined by the application
• SZTPD

Products and services

• SZTPD (Secure Zero Touch Provisioning Daemon) SZTPD implements the Bootstrap Server (SZTP-server) defined in Section 4.4 of RFC 8572, enabling a network device (SZTP-client) in its factory-default state to establish a secure connection to its rightful owner's NMS/Controller application. Suitable for single-tenant and multi-tenant deployments with dynamic callout hooks for manufacturer device-ownership authentication, lightweight enough for ephemeral SDN use, and horizontally scalable for high-availability. Targets network operators, ISPs, and network equipment vendors.
• YANGcore YANGcore is a RESTCONF-based application server that presents a YANG-driven API using YANG modules defined by the application. It owns the main loop and provides core functionality including authentication, authorization, and accounting, and uses plugins to enable interoperability with deployment-specific infrastructure. Targets network operators and developers building network management applications on top of a standards-compliant foundation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sustains 2000 concurrent onboardings per minute in production
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• AppViewX: AppViewX provides network automation, certificate lifecycle management, and PKI-based device identity — overlapping with Watsen Networks' PKI/SZTP capabilities and its enterprise certificate-provisioning value proposition.
• NetBox Labs: NetBox Labs maintains the open-source NetBox network source-of-truth used heavily in YANG/NETCONF-driven automation; relevant as ecosystem participation rather than direct competition, sharing developer audiences with SZTPD/YANGcore.
• Forward Networks: Forward Networks offers network digital twin and verification tools that consume YANG/RESTCONF data; adjacent to YANGcore as a vendor that leverages the same IETF-defined APIs for next-gen network operations.

Broad incumbents

• Nokia (NetGuard / EDA): Nokia's Network Operations and EDA platforms serve carriers with zero-touch onboarding and assurance, competing with Watsen Networks for the same operator-footprint opportunities that anchored the ISP deployment milestone.
• Cisco (Crosswork / DNA Center): Cisco's Crosswork and DNA Center suites provide automation, ZTP, and assurance for service-provider and enterprise networks, representing the broad incumbent competitor to Watsen Networks in secure device onboarding at scale.
• Juniper Networks (Apstra / Mist): Juniper offers Apstra, Paragon and Mist AI for NMS/automation across data center and WAN, and was Kent Watsen's long-time employer. As a broad incumbent, its platform competes head-on with Watsen Networks' standards-based YANG/RESTCONF tooling.

Direct peers

• BackBox: BackBox offers network device automation, backup and ZTP for multi-vendor environments; comparable to Watsen Networks' SZTPD in addressing secure zero-touch provisioning and lifecycle automation for ISPs and large enterprises.
• Gluware: Gluware delivers enterprise network automation and orchestration across multi-vendor infrastructure, sharing with Watsen Networks the focus on API-driven, standards-based device onboarding and configuration management.
• Anuta Networks: Anuta Networks builds network orchestration and service provisioning platforms for carriers and enterprises; directly comparable to YANGcore's application-server role and SZTPD's bootstrapping focus for operator-scale deployments.
• Itential: Itential provides network automation and orchestration software for enterprises and service providers, much like Watsen Networks' YANGcore/SZTPD stack, with overlapping focus on zero-touch provisioning and YANG/NETCONF-driven automation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/watsen-networks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wastern Networks